Nevada tip leads to telemarketing arrest in Canada

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 1998 | 11:37 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A tip from a man in Eastern Nevada has led to the arrest of several suspects accused of operating a telemarketing scam in Canada that may have bilked thousands of Americans.

The man, of McGill, whose identity was not released, notified the state Bureau of Consumer Protection that he had sent a $1,000 cashier's check to a company identified as "Capital Premium Center" in North York, Ontario, Canada. He said he had been notified by the center he had won a new Ford Taurus and $25,000 in sweepstakes.

But he was told he would have to pay an $1,826 advance customs fee to receive the money and car. He sent $1,000 as partial payment, then decided to contact the state. The state notified the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Toronto, which arrested Ronald Garner, 53, and several accomplices.

The mounties also said they intercepted thousands of dollars sent by victims in the United States to the address. And a search of the premises showed similar scams were going on in other names.

Garner was released on bail after his arrest.

"Legitimate contests cannot require payment in advance," said Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa.

The Family Court has re-elected Judge Gloria Sanchez as presiding judge and elected Judge Robert Gaston as the new Juvenile Court judge for next year.

Gaston, who replaces Family Judge Gerald Hardcastle, assumes his duties Jan. 4 over the cases of juvenile crime and child abuse and neglect. He also will preside over the juvenile Drug Court, which was the first such program in the nation for underage drug offenders.

Sanchez is ending her first term as presiding judge handling administrative matters for the Family Court along with a portion of the domestic cases in the system.

Both Sanchez and Gaston were elected to the bench in 1992 and were unopposed this year in their bids for re-election.

Richard Urey, former press secretary to Gov. Bob Miller, has been named to U.S. Rep.-elect Shelley Berkley's staff in Washington, D.C.

Urey will serve as administrative assistant to the freshman Democrat, who defeated Republican Don Chairez in the District 1 congressional race Nov. 3. A former TV news reporter, Urey, 51, served as Miller's press secretary from October 1993 to June 1998 before joining the Berkley campaign.

"Working for Shelley is certainly going to be a tremendous opportunity to do a lot of good things for Southern Nevada," Urey said. He added that Berkley has talked with outgoing Rep. John Ensign, the two-term Republican who vacated the District 1 seat to challenge Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., to help smooth her transition into the position.